Mod 2 Obj #9

describe ways in which a user’s

characteristics require adaptation
of a user interface to increase
effectiveness;
BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6-15
•Most user interfaces Designed for individuals within this age group falls in the
category of educational software. To allow persons of the younger category to
efficiently and safely use a computer there should be thing in place such as,
appropriate font sizes.

•When designing children’s UI, the designer should avoid the use of abstract
concepts as children may not yet understand the abstract concepts. They found
that the children were unable to form queries but were able to understand the
icons representing what animals eat, the place they live and their appearances.
BETWEEN THE AGE 15-30
This age group of people are more familiar and can easily learn how
to use an interface. To engage the user not much is to be done to
make the UI more simplified than it already is as this age group
tends to adapt and learn technologies relatively easy when
compared to the other age groups.
OVER 50
To facilitate easy maneuvering of users in this age category the UI
must have features such as:

•Large font size: Elderly people generally have poor eyesight.

•Focus on one process at a time. This is done to prevent the user

for being overwhelmed by having multiple processes taking place
at once.
 Educational Background

Moving to a digital platform has it’s challenges, mainly on how

different user’s of varying Educational backgrounds would be
able to interact and effectively use the technology
Users can be categorized using three different
educational backgrounds

•Novice User – these primarily refer to users with a low level educational background
such as young kids who have not been introduced to the application of technology
and adults who were unfortunately not able to complete a secondary school level of
education.

•Mid-level (Intermediate Users) – are those with the basic understanding of a

computer, who retain some amount of computer literacy through usage of the
technology and are able to perform basic functions.

•High-level (Expert Users) – are those who have expert control in using and navigating
the computer system and can operate the interface more efficiently and effectively.
 A Novice Users interface should be adapted in
such a way that it does not overwhelm the user
with the amount of options that there is to
interact with the interface.

Case in point, if a user who never owned a

smartphone decided to upgrade to the latest
Novice User model smartphone. The UI may overwhelm him
with it’s various functionalities, that’s why
certain companies like Samsung have created a
feature called Easy Mode where the interface is
simplified, icons are enlarged and simplistic
navigation gestures are implemented.
 Mid-level Users interface should be adapted in such a
way that a simple and memorable interface format
is followed, minimizing the use of complex terms
and instructions.
For example if a user had just bought a laptop and
Intermidiate was interacting with it for the past week, he would
User be able to recognize the various functionalities of
certain applications from its real world counter parts
and be able to navigate/ maneuver the interface
with relative ease. An example of this would be the
trash can icon, PC icon and control panel icon.
Expert User
A High-level user’s interface does not need to be simplified in any form
but needs to retain the previous interface layout. Given that these
users hold an expert understanding in navigating various complex user
interfaces, they should not encounter difficulties in maneuvering the
UI.
For example the Expert user would have no issues switching between
different types of interfaces, i.e. command line, graphical UI, menu
driven and form based.
TYPES OF DIFFERENTLY ABLED
•VISUALLY IMPAIRED
•DEAFNESS
•DYSLEXIA
•COLOR VISION DEFICINECY
•MOTOR DISABILITIES
VISION IMPAIRMENT

What is Vision Impairment?

•Visual impairment is a term experts use to describe any kind of vision loss,
whether it's someone who cannot see at all or someone who has partial
vision loss.
•Some people are completely blind, but many others have what's called legal
blindness. They haven't lost their sight completely but have lost enough
vision that they'd have to stand 20 feet from an object to see it as well as
someone with perfect vision could from 200 feet away.
How can Human Computer Interface adapt to the needs
of users with vision impairment?
•Individuals with vision impairment
cannot access visual material
presented on a traditional
computer screen, however Input Output
fortunately specialized hardware Spoken word eg.
and software can make computer Text-to-speech to
systems usable by individuals with Natural language
vision impairment. read text displayed
interface
•An effective HCI to facilitate such
individuals should consists of the Narrator/screen
Braille keyboard as
following. reader to read text
well as narrator
displayed
DEAFNESS
What is deafness?

Deafness is a form of disability where an individual

experiences a partial or complete loss in hearing in one or
two of their ears. Deafness can be inherited or caused by
external factors like loud noises, drugs, and toxins.
 As technology shifts to becoming
more and more dependent on voice
user interfaces as a mode of
How communication then screen, display
deafness or tactile interface, deaf and hard

affects user hearing individuals are being left

behind as it is becoming increasingly
interface
difficult for them to access and use.
To solve this problem requires
multimedia interfaces.
How user interface could adapt to accommodate
deafness?

In relation to Human Computer Interface (HCI), the

accessibility features of Graphical User Interface (GUI) is the
best option. The option of using subtitles or transcripts on
videos (multimedium), using plain English and using a linear,
logical layout that is easy to understand are all ways to
accommodate deaf individuals.
DYSLEXIA

WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?
Dyslexia is a language based disability that involves a lack of
coordination in a person between sight and sound.
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH DYSLEXIA
•Reading
•Writing
DYSLEXIA ADAPTION TO USER INTERFACE
•Avoid using high contrast levels- It is often hard for people with
dyslexia to read texts with high contrast levels. According to recent
studies, pastel backgrounds are a better choice compared to high-
contrast colors.
•Typography- make texts easy for reading for the most part of users,
but it can be not enough if we want to involve dyslexic users. There are
specific fonts for users with reading disorders example OpenDyslexic &
Times It . Avoid italics or underlines, use bold instead.
•Keep lines of text short. Studies show that it is best to stick up to 45
characters in a line.
 •Allow design customization. Let app users set such visual
preferences as colors, text magnification, and fonts.
DYSLEXIA ADAPTION
•Support text with icons whenever possible.
TO USER INTERFACE
CONTINUED •Add images, pictograms, and videos instead of text to
make the design more accessible.

•Enable auto-fill where possible. Don’t make users

remember everything. Instead, enable a Google-like
search field that remembers what the user has previously
searched for.
COLOR
VISION
DEFICIENCY What is Color Vision Deficiency?

Color vision deficiency (sometimes called color

blindness) is the decreased ability to see the
differences in certain colors and different shades of
those colors. Most individuals who are affected by
this have trouble distinguishing between shades of
red, yellow and green.
 •Color blind users may not be able to tell
application icons apart due to its color (e.g.
Effects of red, green, yellow).

Color
•The user may get confused when using an
Vision application with these colors, which can
lead to them entering inaccurate data.
Deficiency
•Problems may arise when trying to do
certain projects such as creating a
presentation with pictures and highlighting
text.
 •If the user is on a computer, the colorblind
mode can be turned on in the settings menu.
Here they are able to personalize the settings
How user by choosing what type of colorblindness they
interface could have and what colors they can and cannot see.
adapt to Color
•Inserting text in the background of images.
Vision
Deficiency •For the benefit of colorblind users, certain color
accommodate? combinations should be avoided when creating
websites or applications. (e.g. green/red,
green/brown.)
MOTOR DISABILITIES
WHAT IS MOTOR DISABILITIES?

•Motor disability is essentially a condition that impedes sensation, movement

or coordination. It can result from several possible causes and pre-existing
health conditions such as congenital conditions, spinal cord injuries and
physical trauma.

•Having developed motor disability, one can easily be refrained from executing
their daily tasks and routines. Therefore, Computer engineers have designed
an eye tracking device specifically known as eye gaze.
 How user •The eye gaze device allows motor disabled users
to navigate and control their computer with their
interface eyes. The system provides basic functions such as
could adapt to activate, select, zoom and scroll. The device then
records the user’s eye movements where a
accommodate computer program would analyse and interpret
the information that is being requested from the
Motor user.

Disabilities?
CULTURAL USER INTERFACE CHARACTERISTIC FOR
MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS

DIFFERENCES
WHAT IS CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
Cultural differences is the quality of diverse or different cultures.
The phrase cultural diversity can also refer to having different
cultures respect each other's differences. Cultural difference
involves the integrated and maintained system of socially
acquired values, beliefs, and rules of conduct which impact the
range of accepted behaviors distinguishable from one social
group to another.
POINTS ON
CULTURAL •Graphical Design
DIFFERENCES
IN •Language
TECHNOLOGY
•Racially Diverse

•Festive Diversity
GRAPHICAL DESIGN
The graphical part of the interface is the part that deals with the design of the art of the
interface for example icons and pictures. Graphics are used to transmit messages to the
user but it must also be respectful to different social groups. Graphics are designed
respectfully to capture and captivate all end users around the world to take part in the
software program without being offended culturally. For example in the video game
‘Fortnite’ for there end users in China they have removed all skull based graphics
because in China skulls are considered a taboo which is an implicit prohibition on
something, skulls are considered a taboo because there is a fear in China that skulls could
cause delinquency in children.
LANGUAGE
Language in an interface is there for the end user to understand the
interface verbally and comprehensively. The reasons there are different
languages in an interface is for people of every nation to understand the
interface. For example Google's A.I assistant can speak 30 different
languages for most of the worlds technological end users to be able to
talk to her to retrieve information, and in the Google application a user
can select their language of origin.
 RACIAL DIVERSITY
To properly explain this concept we will be relating it the a Direct Manipulation Interface which
is the game ‘Fortnite’. Racial Diversity means having a range of people with various racial,
ethnic, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Since many games are globally accessible
they must not be bias of different races. For example in ‘Fortnite’ there are four main types of
character races, there are African American, White, Chinese and Mexican characters. By having
a diverse amount of characters, it adds personalization to the game and attracts users of all
cultures to want to play because in the gaming community the more your character looks like
yourself the more you tend to enjoy using the interface.
FESTIVE DIVERSITY
To properly explain this concept we will be relating it with a Direct Manipulation Interface
which is the game ‘Fortnite’. Festive diversity in an interface is where the coders add
unique items in the program to commemorate a users culture. Since many games are
globally accessible they must not be bias to different cultures. For example in the game
‘Fortnite’ which is one of the most popular game in the world, they have many different
cultural users and those users have different festivals, that’s why in this game almost
every two weeks there is always some special events celebrating a popular or unpopular
festival and this also attracts users because they feel appreciated by the developers of
the interface.
 • A non-visual interface is a computer program that

will allow visual impaired people to use the

computer.

NON-VISUAL • Non-visual includes touch and hearing.

INTERFACES • The relationship between a non-visual interface

and a HCI is that both needs/involves hand-eye

coordination.
NON-VISUAL Types of Non-Visual Interfaces:
INTERFACES • Pro Binding Source
SENSORS
 • Sensors are devices that measure physical or

systematic input which is converted into a signal

SENSORS that is sent to a main control system where it can

be interpreted by a human or computer interface.

 Types of sensors:
• Smoke sensors

• Temperature sensors

• Pressure sensor
SENSORS • Motion sensor

• IR sensor

• Proximity sensor

• Light sensor
ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES
ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES

• Accessibility features are designed to help people with disabilities use

technology more easily.
• For example, a text-to-speech feature may read text out loud for people with
limited vision, while a speech-recognition feature allows users with limited
mobility to control the computer with their voice.
ACCESIBILITY FEATURES

Some common types of accessibility features are:

• Features for blind or low-vision computer users: Features such as text-to-speech allow users to
hear what’s on the screen instead of reading it. Other features, like high-contrast
themes and enlarged cursors, make it easier for users with limited vision to see the screen.
• Features for deaf or low-hearing computer users: Closed-captioning helps to convey audio
information to deaf users in visual form. Mono audio systems transmit right and left audio
signals through both earbuds and headphones so users with limited hearing in one ear will not
miss part of what they are listening to.
• Features for limited-mobility computer users: Keyboard shortcuts are convenient for many
people, but they are especially helpful to those with difficulty physically manipulating a
mouse. For users who have difficulty pressing several keys at once, sticky keys allow them to
press keys one at a time to activate a shortcut.
ACCESIBILITY FEATURES

• The relationship between HCI and Accessibility features is that Human–

computer interaction(HCI) studies the design and use of computer technology,
focused on the interfaces between people (users) and computers.

• HCI is design for humans interact with computers in novel ways and the
accessibility features help the disable users to interact are use technology more
comfortably.

• This relation allows a better interaction with technology for the user.